SECRET
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tuesday, 28th January 1941

Present :

D.G.

D.D.G.

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Fraser

Mr. Macgregor

Mr. Gates

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

1. Minutes of the meeting on 27th January were taken as read and approved.

2. The D.G. explained that the Sub-Committee which had been appointed by the Joint Standing Committee of the Ministry and Reuters had not reached agreement on the question of inclusion or exclusion of enemy communiqués in the Globereuter service. He wished to discuss the matter the following day, Mr. Wiltshire and Mr. Ridsdale being present.

[Re/170]

3. Mr. Radcliffe referred to discussion at the previous day's meeting about lack of co-ordination in arrangements for the issue of publicity by the Allied Governments in this country. It was agreed that Mr. Radcliffe should take up the question with the Foreign Office.

[CN/382]

4. The Parliamentary Secretary said he felt further instruction should be given to the B.B.C. to make them exclude from their news commentaries, etc., the unpleasant ironic inflexion which was still appearing too frequently. It was agreed that the Parliamentary Secretary should, with the support of the Executive Board, raise the matter at the meeting of the B.B.C. Home Board on Thursday, 30th January.

[B/82/3]

5. Reference was made to the excellent broadcast by Mr. W.J. Brown and Mr. Macgregor agreed to obtain the script of the talk for the D.G. to read. Reference was also made to a pamphlet prepared by Mr. Tom Johnston and circulated in Scotland; it was agreed that a copy should be obtained and considered with a view to circulation elsewhere.

The D.G. asked whether progress was being made in carrying out the Minister's injunction to emphasise the evil consequences “If Hitler comes”. It was explained that in the view of the Parliamentary Secretary everything possible was now being done; in particular active steps were being taken to publicise “It all depends on me”, not for the time being directly by the Ministry but through the works councils of big employers of labour, and in other ways.